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Benchmark for Linux desktops - Update

Almost two years after its initial announcement, the Linux Solution Group (LiSoG) has now presented specifications for its OSDtBench (Open Source based Desktop Benchmark) desktop benchmark suite and demonstrated a prototype at LinuxTag 2009 in Berlin. According to LiSoG, public bodies in particular are placing increasing emphasis on benchmark results for comparing the performance of different computers. In view of the growing use of Linux and open source software, the group believes that it's necessary to supplement the BAPCo Sysmark benchmark often used under Windows, with a completely open source-based benchmark solution for Linux.

The specifications describe a typical workstation running common tasks such as office, internet, email, diary management, project planning and data processing. For each of these tasks, the specifications outline several scenarios with a series of work steps. The benchmark, which can be used on laptops and desktops, uses scripts to run through these tasks, in part in parallel, to simulate a normal work flow. It weighs the results according to set schemata and uses it to calculate an overall score for the test system.

The benchmark suite is expected to be completed and made available to download within the next few days.

Update - According to Erik Stolle of AMD, one of the team developing the benchmark, it is the specification and prototype, with only a few tests implemented, which will be released in the next few days. As Stolle told The H "The prototype's scope is to proof the concept of the benchmark and to give a first impression on the usability".